If you ask me, being lefty is a major advantage when you have talent. Many left handers are notorious for putting righties at a major disadvantage, like in baseball. Every racquet sport I play, as well as handball, when people see that i'm lefty, they immediately get uneasy and complain. I hate when people say, oh I lost to you bc you're left handed; what a crock!

As far as bbell training, I couldn't agree any more. My first routine in january, I only trained chest with dumbells and when concentrating on shoulders or triceps, there was not a drastic increase in strength. Now that I started to train bench press with a barbell, I saw an IMMEDIATE increase in regards to shoulder and tricep exercises. Just to give an example of how significant it was. In january, I was struggling to lift the olympic barbell during military presses for reps and now I am able to 120lbs for 8 reps. had to do assisted dips during the first regimen with assistance of between 70-40lbs. Now I'm able to do weighted dips for six sets with as much as a 15lb dumbell for 8 reps and can do at least 16 unassisted, probably more.

Week 6: 3/24-3/30

Resistance Training-Total Time: 7 hours, 30 minutes
-Worked out 6/7 days (Fri off)
-Started cycle 6/8
-Squats (4/01 most recent) 195x8, 205x8, 215x8, 225x8, 235x8, 245x8
follow by a 18 set leg workout and then:
Sumo Stance DEEP squats 135x30, 135x30, 135x31 (Veganessentials hi
rep style for endurance!). My traps gave out bf my legs did from
balancing the bar on them so long so I did an extra rep on the last set
just to prove I could. Plus it feels like forever during a high rep squat
set like that!
-Deadlifts (3/27) 245x8, 255x8, 265x8, 275x8, 280x8, 285x8
-Incline Chest (3/30) 130x8, 135x8, 140x8
Flat Chest 130x8, 135x8, 140x8

Cardio-Approx Total Time: 5 hr, 21 min
-Played 17 games racquetball
-Ran 10k race (10:43 p/mile avg) Most i've ran at a clip since this race
was 3.5 miles so it felt really good.

Highlights-Very happy with squat performance. Stabilizers are really kicking it into
high gear. Something I did triggered it and I no longer have to struggle
to balance the bar. Poundages are going up smoothly but still at a 40lb
deficit to deadlifts.
-10k race, most distance i've ran in over 1 1/2 yrs.
-Alot more cardio this week.
-Weighted dips are in full effect baby! 45lb plates here i come...
-Looking forward to joining the 3 plate club for reps with squats (70lbs
away from mark) and Deadlifts (30lbs away from mark). BP is still weak,
next regimen will prep for a new regimen focused mainly on benching.

Hey on the plus side, your blood type is the universal recipient! You can take anyone's blood. Perhaps you should think about becoming a vampire. Most vampires run into health problems later on in life because of this problem but you would definitely live longer than the rest of the immortal vampires except for maybe Bunnicula who sticks to veggies. I suppose if you're sucking on blood, you aren't really a vegan vampire are you??

Thanks for the kudos for the racquetball placing. I am kind of pissed though because they haven't given me a trophy and I was promised one. I complained yesterday and hopefully something will happen. But NYSC is all corporate and I don't have my hopes up b/c they suck sometimes at doing the simple things.

The whole lefty situation, yeh I either get respect or envy nothing in between. People are like oh yeh i wish I was lefty, you're lucky i'm not. Funny story, i'll never forget several years back when a woman who was married just kept looking at me funny when I was playing. End of the game, she approached me and asked if I was a ballerina and when I responded no, she looked puzzled and confused. I thought that was hilarious! She said to not feel insulted in that ballerinas have good form and are athletic and talented but I said this is racquetball deary, not swan lake! IT's all good.

PWO recovery I am guessing you mean dietwise. Well for one, I swear by the use of spirulina and chlorella (more so spirulina) in massive quantities for a protein supplement. I get it down during and directly after a wkout. I don't mind the taate but I prefer fresh food which is why I consume it during wkouts so that it takes preference. Only problem is cost and it is taxing on the digestive system if you're not used to it. If one were to just starting taking in 75g of algae a day out of nowhere, you would not be happy unless you have a very clean system expect to be in the br alot. Costwise, I have a superb connection for bulk (50lbs spirulina, 22lbs chlorella) which makes it possible for me to gorge on it. Retail mkt values of$50-$75 are terrible but when you save 65% or more, it doesn't propose an issue.

Also, when I do alot of training in a day, calories more than anything, I just become a bottomless pit and start clearing out the fridge and countertop. A main reason why I try not to buy nuts and seeds too often b/c I just inhale them and they are high in calories. I really want to be a little leaner.

The last thing is sleep. I work part time b/c I cannot find a full time job and it is driving me batty. I generally sleep around 8 hours, sometimes more. It's probably a good thing but it doesn't make me happy. 5 years ago, if I slept more than 5-6 hours, it was extraordinary. No matter how much I did, even on vigorous training days I never craved sleep but nowadays I cannot get enough of it and waking up is a stretch. I am glued to the bed. The only time this isn't the case is when i'm fasting and during times like that any more than 5 hours and my body is doing somersaults in bed to wake me up. I don't really want to fast right now though, it doesn't suit my needs at this time. Wish I didn't crave so much sleep but again it seems to be helping.

VeganEssentials. Thank you for the support. I saw that picture of you with the one arm barbell lift on your training log. I need to dissect it from start to finish as all of your advice is very helpful and a lot of it is new stuff to me. I have started to go through it in depth and I am currently making a list of foreign methods of training and exercises I have not performed yet so that I may do my homework and gather up some good knowledge for future routines. It is a blessing to have you on the forum

Tuc, thank you much. In all honesty, that is an old shot (2 summers ago). I suppose it is kind of misleading having old photos for my avatar so I changed it to a recent one of me and my beloved durian. I have a funny one to post as soon as I can snap it. I post the old ones bc I miss my physique and it motivate me to get it back but it gives others the impression i'm already there so i'll stop with that. Yours is where its at.

Progress photos will be coming in shortly brother. I have 9 more training day s left until my current routine is finished. So figure, 10-15 days and I will have after shots to post. No matter, you run the show right now on the bf/after threads. I'll come to share the spotlight in about two weeks

Deadlifting tonight in a few. Gotta creep up to the 3 plate crew!!!!!!!!

Ok, couldn't wait till sunday for this exciting news. I actually deadlifted today and just played racquetball yesterday

did my normal routine:

255x8, 265x8, 275x8, 285x8, 295x8, 295x6

I said to myself, I am only 20lbs shy of the 3 plate crew so I went for it.

Loaded the bar, 315 and did 3 reps no problem

Proceed to keep increasing the weight and here's how it went

335x1
355x1
365x1
375x1
385x1 (the 12th consecutive set) It was trying and I almost had to jerk it up near the top so I didn't to increase the weight again.

Afterwards, I did some good mornings, back extensions and then finished up with some high rep deadlifts: 135x20, 135x20, 135x22

I went from being 30lbs away from the 3 plate club to being only 20lbs away from the 4 plate club in one week!!! Today has been by and far the best workout day this entire year since I have resumed training. I couldn't be happier.

If only my squats were anywhere near that. I think if I attempted to squat that kind of weight right now, I'd drop to the floor....

I am going to attempt the 4 plate club two sessions from now and I fully expect to make it happen

Cardio-Approx Total Time: 1 hour (not much this week, pops was in the hospital)
-Played 4 games of racquetball

Highlights-Lifting 385lbs on my 12th set of deadlifts without jerking the bar
-What's in my gym bag? After getting continually asked why it looks like
i'm always limping b/c I have such a heavy gym bag, I decided to dissect
it and figure out just what's in it:

Highlights-Failed attempt to lift 405lb deadlift which I honestly just set myself up for. I totally psyched myself out. 385 was a challenge last week and I think just just took that and put it in my head and pretty much guaranteed myself I wouldn't lift it. I unracked it, lowered it to the floor and left it there, no lift whatsoever. o well, couple more weeks.
-Finished my latest routine, took some progress shots. Very pleased with my upper back growth. Really need to shrink my damn hips and waist. I'm like a curvy woman!
-I still can't do not even one pullup good grief i used to be able to bang out 100 before a workout (in sets of course) cmon already!
-Weighted dips are in full effect and i'm lovin em'!

Thanks Hsorlando!! It will be interesting to see how I will be in trying to keep up with my new racing partner whom I met at the last event. She is going to run 4m before the race and then claims she will be running the 4m race at a 9-9:30min pace p/mile. I told her I will attempt to keep pace. This should be a hoot...

I got outdoors for my first game of handball in almost 2 years!!!! Gosh it felt so good. I have played for the most part for the last 14 yrs only taking perhaps 3 1/2 of those years off in between.

Played 7 games near the beach on the beautiful courts of Coney Island and hung outdoors for 6 hours soaking up the sun. First real color on my white skin as well.

Unfortunately, I got 'Bandana Tan'. UGH. I guess I will just have to be outdoors tomorrow morning again with my friend to even out the color. It is supposed to be 78 degrees F tom for the high. Heck yeah, that's what i'm talking about......

On my way to the gym for some racquetball and hopefully deadlifts and squats, yes, on the same day. dum dum dum dummmmmmmmmm

All supersets. Two exercises per set, 8 reps per exercise (16 total), to prepare for a grueling flat bench centered workout to up my bench press max by anywhere from 30-50lbs in 50days (will talk more about it in a week or so when it begins.

Highlights-Raced sunday and had someone to compete against. Haven't been
specifically training for running but since I was pushed, I ran 9:12 p/mile
pace instead of the 10:00p/mile pace I have been running. Did I mention
I had to throw up at the finish line the three dates I had for breakfast? lol
-Argued to corporate at my gym and I should be getting my trophy now for
winning the racquetball league last season. Played my first match of the
season and was down by 8, came back and took the next 30 points in a
row.... 15-8, 15-0. It was a thrashing.
-First day out in the sun last thursday and first day playing handball by the
beach in almost 2 years. Got burnt to a crisp bad. Was peeling blisters
and scratching them last two days. Sunblock next time!
-Trying to convince my buddy to train with me at my gym as I will be doing
alot of negatives and heavy reps and will need constant assistance.
-Supersets are going terrific. Nothing like doing 8 reps of squats and then
proceeding to do 8 reps of deadlifts without rest for 8 sets in a row. Felt
wonderful. (4sets Squats-Deadlifts, 4sets Sumo Squats-Roman Deadlifts)